Why They Voted for Trump

Donald J. Trump at a news conference in Palm Beach, Fla., on Tuesday evening.CreditCreditDamon Winter/The New York Times

March 2, 2016

Voters in the Super Tuesday states explain, in their own words, why they supported the day’s big Republican winner.

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“I got six kids. It’s difficult. To have them grow up and be respectable and decent members of society is important. His kids aren’t running around like Paris Hilton and dragging their bodies through the mud.”

Albert Banda, 59

Somerville, Mass.

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“He has such a big ego — that actually works in our favor, I think. He doesn’t just want to be a president. He wants to be the greatest president. He doesn’t want to be a laughingstock.”

Elizabeth Burns, 55

Leesburg, Va.

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“He’s not afraid to get in the trenches and fight for you. He’s going to be a bully, and he’s going to tell them what he thinks, and he’s going to push to get it done. He don’t care who he makes mad in the process.”

Mark Harris, 48

Canton, Ga.

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“The same with Muslims getting on airplanes: I think we should spend 25 times as much time searching a Muslim young man than a white middle-aged woman. It’s just common sense, even though it sounds like prejudice.”

John Rupert, 75

Mahtomedi, Minn.

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“More or less, it’s the statement: Listen, we’re sick and tired of what you people do. And we’re going to put somebody in there — now that it’s our choice, we’re going to put somebody in there that basically you don’t like.”

Ken Magno, 69

Everett, Mass.

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“You’re letting refugees in, after what we’ve been through with 9/11? Are you kidding me? No! No, no, no. Now we have a bunch of people being killed, we’ve got ISIS cutting people’s heads off.”